HOW ONE MAN'S OPINION BECAME A MANTRA FOR HOW WE DECORATE OUR HOMES

 Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful, or believe top be beautiful," said William Morris, one of our most renowned artists and textile designers, whose influence can still be seen in homes and other buildings up and down the country.

Born this month in 1834, he – with John Ruskin – was the founding father of the Arts and Crafts movement in the mid 19th century that was set up in protest against Vintage Glassware Victorian mass production which, its adherents believed, demeaned artisans and craftsmen and resulted in ‘shoddy wares.’

It was as concerned with social reform as much as design change and William Morris, a multi-talented man of immense intellect, outstanding vision and immense practical talent, became its poster boy.

ARTISTIC BEGINNINGS

It started at Oxford university where Morris, who was studying theology at Exeter College, became part of The Birmingham Set, a group of young men who dedicated themselves to a love of literature from the Romantic Age (1785 – 1832) and social reform. They included artist Edward Burne-Jones, one of the most influential artists of his age (1833 – 1898) who became a life-long friend to Morris.

Morris abandoned plans to enter the church to become an architect then ditched that idea for art. He started to experiment with various crafts and established a number of workshops where he insisted that no work could be done before he personally had understood and mastered the techniques involved.

He began to make Hallway Furniture and decorative objects for the home, including tiles, wallpapers and carpets, using bold forms and strong colour. He took his inspiration from the English countryside, influenced by romantic style elements from medieval times, so there was a strong rustic theme to his work, venerating nature and the simplicity of form.

These beautiful Morris-style curtains with their floral motif and the lampshade in Morris’s famous ‘Strawberry Thief’ design are classic examples of his design.

Morris married artists’ model Jane Burden in 1858 and came to public attention after taking part in the Great Exhibition held in London in 1862 to showcase industrial and cultural products from across the globe. His eponymous Morris and Co business was founded in 1875 after an earlier company was dissolved.

Much of Morris and Co’s early work was for the church, where his influence encouraged others to embrace his style. One notable example is the church of St Mary in the village of Stogumber, which lies between Watchet and Wellington in Somerset.

This 14th century building was transformed during the late Victorian period by Prebendary Edward Jones, an admirer of William Morris. He had the church altered in the Arts and Crafts style with stencilled walls, patterned floor tiles and a painted wagon roof. Commenting on the church, the village website states: ‘The Victorian alterations are vividly coloured and create a contrast to the earlier medieval stonework and plain Furniture Vintage.’